Richmont Faculty and Staff Publish Chapter in New “Christianity and Developmental Psychopathology” Book

This spring, Dr. Amanda M. Blackburn (Associate Dean of Students & Richmont Faculty member), Christine Weisgerber (Richmont alumna) and Michelle Shelley (Richmont alumna and Director of the Richmont Community Counseling Center) co-wrote and published the 10th chapter in the groundbreaking “Christianity and Developmental Psychopathology” book. Published by InterVarsity Press, their chapter was titled “Behavioral Approaches to Treatment” and discussed theoretical and evidence-based approaches to working with children and adolescents through the frameworks of developmental psychopathology and a Christian worldview.

“It was exciting to be a part of such an important project and to contribute to the conversation of developmental psychopathology with a Christian voice that advocates for children as gifts, persons, and agents in their development,” said Dr. Blackburn.

As a whole, this volume offers essays that offer an integrated framework between psychopathology and the Christian faith. For the first time since developmental psychopathology’s inception in the 1980’s, Christian mental health professionals working with children and adolescents have a resource that speaks to their specific approach to clinical treatment. The web release published by InterVarsity Press states:

“Throughout the book, the authors explore three integrative themes, looking at children as divine gifts, as persons and as agents in their own development.” The release also states, “Christian insights help to prevent the scientific study of the developmental process from being reductive. At the same time, research into the biological, sociocultural and psychological dimensions of human development can serve to inform and guide Christian practices of care and hospitality toward children and families.”

Edited by Kelly S. Flanagan and Sarah E. Hall, the book is available for purchase by visiting the InterVarsity web site or any major retailer.

“I feel honored to participate in writing a chapter for Christianity and Developmental Psychopathology,” said Shelley. “As a child and adolescent therapist, I strive to not only apply techniques that have scientific validity, but to integrate my Christian faith into my worldview of children and the manner in which I apply therapy. I am humbled to have been a part of a book that clearly disseminates these concepts to the clinical world as well as represent Richmont Graduate University in this way.”